System and apparatus for operating prison cell doors



June 23, 1942.

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June 23, 1942.

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR OiERAT ING PRISQN CELL DOORS Filed July 12, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 k N. no mm 3 Q n9 n mum 0R 4 ATTORNEY BY %ZM Qui June 23, 1942. a l p 2,287,422

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F I I I I I I I I II I l II I I Iv L I I J Q I U- I I RI in J I 9 I ET a i' l I a I Fa Q a I m J; y. I I T a I L ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1942 SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING PRISON CELL DOORS Oscar S. Field, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to General Railway Signal Company, Rochester, N. Y.

. Application July 12, 1939, Serial No. 284,077

48 Claims.

This invention relates to a system and apparatus for the supervisory manual control from a suitable remote control point of the power and manual opening and closing movement and looking of prison cell doors.

In the typical prison contemplated in accordance with this invention, the cells are usually arranged in blocks or tiers with sliding doors opening into a corridor; and it is desirable that a guard stationed at one end of the corridor, usually in some protecting cage or enclosure, or at some other suitable control point, should be able to unlock and open, or close and lock, the doors of the cell block individually, or in some selected group, or all at the same time, as occasion may require. For example, when the prisoners are to be released for work or otherwise, the guard may wish to unlock and open from his station all of the cell doors of the tier at the same time, or only some of the doors for cells then occupied, or perhaps only some of the doors of the occupied cells to leave one or more prisoners confined while the others are released. Similarly, when the prisoners are marched to their cells, the guard may sometimes wish to close and lock by power all of the cell doors standing open at the same time, or at other times he may want to close and look by power one or more 'of the doors standing open from time to time as these cells become occupied, or he may wish to have the doors free to be closed and locked by the prisoners; Further, occasion may arise where the guard may wish to let out or lock up one particular prisoner; and it is desirable that he should be able from his station to unlock and open, or close and look, any

selected one of the various cell doors in the block independently of all the others. a

Various other conditions in prison operation and routine make it desirable to provide a system of supervisory manual control from a suitable protected control point by which any desired number or group of cells may be readily opened or closed, locked or unlocked, by power or by hand, safely and by a simple manipulation.

Various kinds of mechanical cell door operating and locking systems have been devised; but such systems involve various mechanical connections and are impracticable for long cell blocks, on account of the physical effort required for the manipulation, and the difiiculties encountered in,

ing generally without attempting to define the nature and scope of this invention, it is proposed to' provide a unitary power mechanism for each cell door which may be controlled electrically from any desired control point and set into operation to unlock and open, or close and lock, the corresponding cell door, and to arrange electrical control circuits with a master control switch and with individual control switches one for each door in such a way that the power mechanisms for the several doorsof a cell block of any desired length may be set into operation individually, or inany group as may be selected from time to time, thereby attaining a facility in a supervisory manual control of the power operation and locking of cell doors adequate for the various conditions and requirements of prison operation.

This unitary operating mechanism for each cell door comprises in general an electric motor and associated gearing and operating parts which may be controlled electrically from a suitable remote control point to unlock and move the door to its open position, holding it in its partially or fully open position, and also to close the door and hold it in its closed position, as well as automatically operate the usual locking device, such power closing being accomplished in a manner to avoid any severe shock and jar, and occurring at such speed and with such a driving force as are not likely to injure a prisoner who may get caught, in the door, or tries to obstruct its closing. The operating mechanism of this invention has other structural features and operating characteristics which will be explained hereinafter in connection with the description of the specific embodiment of the invention disclosed. v

In connection with such remote control of the power operation and locking of prison cell doors, it is desirable that the closed and locked condition of the various doors should be efiectively and reliably indicated at the remote control point for the information of the guard; and suitable indication means for this purpose is provided in accordance with this invention, preferably by lighting small indicating lamps on a, control panel identified with the respective cells by number designation or the like, when the corresponding door is fully closed and locked, such indicating lamp for each door being extinguished when that door is not locked nor fully closed.

Under some circumstances, as for example, in the case of derangement of the operating mechanism for a door, or in connection with some part of the prison routine, it may be necessary or expedient to unlock an individual door, and also or other authorized person at the point of remote control. More specifically, the system of this invention comprises a master sliding bar extende ing the length of the cell block and operable manually only from the point of remote control so as to cover and uncover a hole adjacent each cell, and thus make it possible to insert and use the key device to unlock the corresponding door and free it from its operating mechanism.

In connection with the, power unlocking and .operation of prison cell doors under remote electrical control as contemplated, there is a further consideration that emergency conditions may arise, such as a fire accompanied by a power failme, where it is desirable to unlock and free all of thedoors of a cell block simultaneously for hand operation, by a mechanical operation independently of the power supply. In accordance with this invention,,it is proposed to provide for such emergency release, of the doors by a master release bar extending the length of the cell block, which may be operated manually from the remote control point and which is effective mechanically by its movement independently of power supply to unlock all of the doors and disconnect them from their operating mechanisms, so that they may be opened manually by the prisoners in case of an emergency.

In the specific embodiment disclosed, the construction is simplified and cheapened by employing the same master sliding bar in one operated position to uncover the holes to receive the key device for the manual release of the individual doors, and in another operated position to provide for the emergency unlocking and disconnection of all of the doors. In this connection, provision is made so that variations in the extent of movement of this master bar at different points in its length,due to lost motion, expansion contraction by variations in temperature, or the like, will not interfere with the desired mechanical operations performed by this bar with respect to each of the doors in the cell block.

The operating mechanism contemplated includesa non-reversible gearing in the drive between the motor and the door, sothat the door is held in its closed position by the mechanism independently of the regular lock, thereby -affordingan additional safeguard in keeping the door closed. With such non-reversible gearing, the operating mechanism acts to hold the door in its open position, as well as in the closed and intermediate positions. There may be situations, however, where it is considered desirable for some reason to have the door free from the operating mechanism in its open position so that it may be closed by hand by the guard or prisoner, as for example, when it is desired to require the prisoners to close their own cell doors when marched in to be locked up. 7

Accordingly, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to provide means manually controlled from the remote control point to cause disengagement of'allof the doors standing fully open from their operating mechanism when desired, so that these doors may be closed by hand, this being accomplished without affecting other doors that are partially or fully closed. When any door is thus closed by hand, its lock is automatically engaged; and the door remains locked until unlocked by the operating mechanism, key device, or emergency manual release.

In connection with such release of the doors in their fully open position, or disconnection of the door from its operating mechanism by use of a manual key device, or by actuation of the master emergency release, Whenever the operating mechanism for such disconnected door is subsequently moved to the open or closed position, as the case may be, it is operatively connected again automatically to the door, irrespective of the position in which it may be standing, so that the operating mechanism can be used thereafter to actuate the lock and move the door by power in'the normal manner,

Other characteristic features, attributes, and advantages of the invention will be in partapparent and in part explained'asthe description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is 9. diagrammatic and perspective illustration of 'the general organization and construction of the door operating mechanism of this invention as applied to one cell doorftogether with the associated master bars and operating levers, the parts being shown in a manner to facilitate an understanding of the structural arrangement and operation rather than in their true form and relationship used in practice.

Fig. 2 is a front View or elevation of the operating and locking mechanism; Fig. 3 is-ageneral "plan view; Figs. 4,5,6, and '7 are verticaltransassociated with the operation of the lock bolt.

Fig. 9" is a fragmentary vertical section along the line 99 of Fig. 3 illustrating certain details of construction associated with the means for coupling and uncoupling the motor driven mechanismto the cell door.

Fig. 10 is another fragmentary-"section along the line I0l0 in Fig. 3 illustrating certain parts associated with the optional feature of freeing the door in its open position.

Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are fragmentary views illustrating the arrangement of parts and operation of the contact device for closing a circuit to an indicating lamp only if thedoor is fully closed and locked.

Fig. 15 is an elevation of the control cabinet at the central control point, with the upper portion partly broken away and with the cabinet door in the open position.

Figs. 16 and 1'! show vertical sections of the control cabinet'taken on the lines l6--l6 and I1l'I respectively in Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a view of the kind of manual key device contemplated for use by the guard to unlock and release an individual cell door when desired; Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the indicating'lamp sockets; and Figs. 0 and 21 are fragmentary views illustrating one construction of the master switch.

Fig. 22 'is a diagrammatic circuit plan of one preferred arrangement of the control and indication circuits for the doors of a cell block; and Fig.

lustrated, it is assumed that the rear wall of 23 is a circuit diagramillustrating one form of centralized power control and indication for which the invention is adapted.

' The system and apparatus for operating prison cell doors in accordance with this invention may be applied to various types of cell block construction; but the specific embodiment illustrated is arranged to conform with the typical or conventional cell block construction involving the usual fixed cell fronts, sliding doors, corner posts or pilasters, and a casing or chaseway of suitable structural form extending the length of the cell block above the doors. It is contemplated that the operating mechanisms for the several doors in the block will be mounted in this casing above the doors and wholly enclosed and protected, the front cover for this casing being removable in sections to give access to the mechanism, such covers being locked by a suitable mechanical device (not shown) releasable from the control cabinet at the end of the cell block in accordance with the usual practice.

The general cell structure with the casing and doorsupport illustrated is merely a typical or representative application of the invention. As shown, the cell doors I of the usual sliding type are supported by hangers 2 which extend through an opening in the bottom of the casing and carry rollers 3 running on track 4 in the usual way.

Generally speaking, the system of this invention comprises a separate and unitary power operating mechanism for each door, electrically connected by suitable control circuits to a master control switch, and individual control switches one for each door, and by suitable indicating circuits to indicating lamps, all mounted on a control panel in a cabinet or compartment located at the end of the cell block, and suitably housed and protected so as to be accessible only to authorized persons. In addition to such unitary cell door operating mechanism, with their supervisory control and indicating circuits, the system of this invention also includes a master release slide bar extending the length of the cell block inside the casing above the doors, which is connected to hand levers in the control cabinet and arranged to be operated to different positions for the purpose of uncovering the holes associated with the respective doors to permit use of the key device for manual unlocking and release of the doors individually, and for the emergency unlocking and release of all of the doors simultaneously. As illustrated, the invention also includes another master selector bar operable from the control cabinet to determine Whether the doors shall be free or held in their open positions.

Door operating mechanism.Considering first the construction of the unitary power mechanism for each door, only one of these mechanisms has been illustrated, and it should be understood that the same mechanism is provided for each of the various doors of a cell block, or

other group of doors under the supervisory man-- ual control from the same control point, these various mechanisms being the same and being electrically connected with the indicating lamps and individual control switches, as well as to a master control switch.

The unitary power operating mechanism of this invention is wholly mounted and supported by one member, such as an angle iron support 5 which is secured in a suitable manner to the rear wall of the casing above the doors.

this'chaseway includes a channel member 6 to which are welded supporting bars 1; and the main angle ironsupport 5 is fastened to the supporting bars by bolts 8. This is merely illustrative of one application of the invention; and the specific way in which the main angle iron support 5 for the door operating mechanism is secured in the chaseway above the cells will, of course, have to be adapted to the particular prison structure for different installations.

This operating mechanism comprises two sliding bars or members, termed a door slide D and an operating slide 0, which are supported on the angle iron support 5 for free sliding movement relative to each other and with respect to said support for a distance corresponding with, the door travel. In the particular construction illustrated, these sliding members are formed of sheet metal of the appropriate thickness, and are guided and supported on each other and on the angle iron support'in a sliding relation in a manner best shown in Fig. 5. The lower or door operating slide D is formed with a flange 9 along the front edge, hooked over the edge of the angle iron support 5 and a down-turned flange at the rear edge resting on the upper face of the horizontal leg of the angleironsupport, a square guide block l0 welded or otherwise suitably fastened to the angle iron support acting to prevent lateral displacement of this slide. The upper or operating slide 0 is formed with down-turned guiding flanges at the edges resting on the angle iron support 5 and the lower door slide, and is guided at the front edge by an 'angle strip ll welded to the door slide D, and at the other rear edge by a detachable Z-shaped bar l2 fastened by tap 13 to the angle bar support 5.

This particular detail construction for obtaining a door slide D and an operating slide 0 relatively movable and in a superimposed relation merely represents one suitable construction for this purpose; and it is evident that other shapes and mountings for sliding members may be employed.

The lower orv door slide D is operatively connected to the door hangers 2 with a yieldable or spring buffer arrangement. In the specific construction illustrated, blocks I5, each supporting a spring buffer, are fastened by welding or otherwise to the door slide D at spaced points. Each of these spring plungers in the form illustrated in Fig. 3 comprises a plunger l6 with an enlarged head guided in a recess in the block l5 and extending through a hole in the block. This plunger is pressed outward by a compression coil spring I! interposed between the enlarged head of the plunger and the bottom of the recess in the block, the plunger being held in place by a collar I8 pinned to its outer end. The spring 11 is preferably compressed during assembly to have an initial compression.

The spring actuated, plungers I6 '01 these spring buffers engage opposite ends of a plate l9 fastened to the door hangers 2 by nuts 2|] on the same bolts for the wheels of the door. It is contemplated that the plate 19 may be bent or shaped as required for a given installation to bring its upper edge in alignment with the plungers l6 of the spring buffers attached to the door slide, regardless of variations in the relationship between the door hangers and the back wall of the casing to which the operating mechanism is attached. In this way, the same operating mechanism is applicable to various cell structures merely by changing the dimensions or shape of the plate I 9. Also, this construction permits a limited amount of free movement laterally of the door hangers relative to the door slide, and thus makes it unnecessary to have accurate alignment of the door slide with respect to the door movement.

The other or operating slide has a rack bar 23 of conventional form spot welded or otherwise suitably fastened thereto along its edge; and this rack bar engages with a pinion 24 on a drive shaft 25 supported near its lower end in a bracket 26 fastened to the angle iron support 5. The upper end of this shaft is guided and supported in a gear casing inclosing a tyical worm gear 28 meshing a pinion 29 (see Fig. 3) connected to the armature shaft of the motor M suitably bolted to an extension on the angle iron support 5. The end of this armature shaft is preferably extended beyond the casing of the motor and squared as indicated at 30 to receive a wrench or wheel by which the mechanism may be operated by hand for the purpose of test or adjustment.

The operating slide 0 also has fastened thereif connected thereto, in the door opened position.

The door slide D to which the door is operatively connected, and the operating slide 0 driven by the motor M, while they may slide relatively to each other under certain conditions, are arranged to be operatively connected with a limited amount of lost motion by a device, conveniently termed a coupling bolt 35, which is supported by and moves with the upper operating slide 0 and which may engage with the end of a recess 36 and in a hole 31 in the door slide D, in a manner best illustrated in Fig. 9, said coupling bolt carrying the roller 38 which rides on a lift bar 39, so that the bolt may be raised or lowered in different positions of the door by an upward movement of this'lift bar.

Referring to the specific details of the construction illustrated, the lower portion of the coupling bolt 35, circular in cross section passes loosely through a hole in the operating slide and a reinforcing block 40 welded to its lower face, the lower edge of this coupling bolt 35 being preferably beveled slightly to facilitate release of its door in the open position in the manner later explained and rests normally in the recess 36 in a reinforcing block 4| welded to the door slide D as shown in Fig. 9. This recess 36 in the reinforcing block 4| has a straight shoulder at one end with which the coupling bolt 35 engages for closing movements, and a hole 31 near the other end to receive the bolt, the edge of the recess adjacent said opening being preferably beveled as indicated at 31a in Fig. 9 for the purpose of facilitating disengagement of the bolt from the door in its open position. The leading or lefthand end of the reinforcing block 4| of the door slide is formed with a beveled or inclined face as indicated at 4 la in Fig. 9, so as to raise the coupling bolt 35 from its lower-most position when the door is closed manually with the operating mechanism in its closed position.

The upper end of the coupling bolt 35 is'circular in cross section and guided-by a bracket 42 attached by bolts-43 to the member 44 fastened to the operating slide 0 (see Fig. '7) The intermediate portion of the coupling bolt 35 is rectangular in cross section and is formed with a recess to receive the lift bar 39; and a roller 33 fastened to the bolt 35 by a rivet pin or the like rides on the upper edge of this lift bar.

The lift bar 39 for operating the coupling bolt 35 has a notch 46 at one end fitting over a pin 41 (see Fig. 9) in the bifurcated end of a crank arm 48 (see Fig. 3); and this crank arm 48 is fastened by a pin 49 to a transverse shaft 50 that is supported near its ends-in a U-shaped bracket 5| welded to the angle iron support 5 (see Fig. 4), with a reinforcing support 52 also welded to said bracket and said angle iron support (see Fig. 9). l

The lift bar 39 is guided at its other end in a notch 53 in a bracket 54 fastened by bolts55 to the angle iron support 5; and this end of the lift bar rests on a roller 56 (see Fig. 10) loose on a stud shaft 51 (see Fig. 4) secured to an extension 58 of the bracket 54. The lower edge of the lift bar 39 is formed with a cam surface 59 (see Fig. 10) adapted to engage this roller 56 and thus raise the lift bar bodily when it is moved endwise.

The crank arm 48 supporting one end of the lift bar is formed with a foot 6| (see Fig. 9) which functions as a stop to limit the downward movement of this crank arm in clockwise rotation of the shaft 50 by engagement with the horizontal leg of the main angle iron support 5.-

One function of the lift bar 39 is to raise the coupling bolt 35 and disconnect the door slide D from the operating slide 0 to free the door for hand operation; and this is accomplished by turning the shaft 50 counterclockwise by a manual key device or by the emergency release bar, in a manner later explained, thereby rocking the crank arm 48 to lift the left-hand end of the lift bar 39 and also move it endwise with a substantially parallel motion, and raising the coupling bolt 35 irrespective of the position in which the door may be standing.

The lift bar 39 is also automatically operated by the operating mechanism during a limited movement of the door near its closed position to cause a partial movement of the coupling bolt 35, so that a limited amount of lost motion between the operating slide 0 and the door slide D is available near the closed position of the door for the purpose of operating the lock bolt, and yet the operating slide and door slide are directly connected without such lost motion during the opening and closing movement of the door and also while the door is open, for the purpose and in the manner explained more in detail later in describing the operation. Considering the structure for accomplishing this function and referring to Fig. 9, the lower edge of the lift bar 39 near its left-hand end is provided with a bevel or cam face 62 to co-operate with the beveled end of a block 63 welded to the end of the operating slide 0.

Door locking means-Considering now the locking means for the door which is operated in connection with its opening and closing by the operating mechanism, the door lock illustrated is of the conventional type and comprises a vertically movable lock bolt 65 inside of the usual structural door post or pilaster indicated at 66. This lock bolt 65 has an enlarged and hardened steel head at the lower end guided in a bracket 51 fixed to the door post and adapted to enter a hole in a staple 68 attached to the door frame in the usual way, Since the lock bolt 65 is operatively raised during closing of the door by hand or power, in a manner later explained, neither the bolt or the staple need to be shaped like a door latch to cause the staple to lift the bolt.

The lock bolt or rod 65 is threaded at its upper end into the lower part of a bifurcated lock bolt actuator 10 (see Fig. 6) with a lock nut H to maintain the adjustment. This lock bolt actuator I is supported and pivotally connected by a pin 12 to the upper end of an angle lever 13 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 50 above mentioned (see Fig. 8), an integral lug '14 on this angle lever 13 projecting sidewise (see Fig. 4) to lie over the crank arm 48 above described for supporting and operating the lift bar 39. Thus, when the shaft 50 is turned by the key device or the emergency release bar, and the crank arm 48 moves counterclockwise to raise the lift bar 39 and actuate the coupling bolt 35, this crank arm 48 at the same time engages the lug l4 and rocks the angle lever 13 to raise the lock bolt actuator Ill and the lock bolt 65 connected thereto, thereby unlocking the door as well as disconnecting it from the operating mechanism.

The lock bolt 65 and its actuator Ill are also operated automatically during the initial opening and the final closing movement of the door by hand or power, so a to provide for positive locking and unlocking. For this purpose, the upper end of the lock bolt actuator is provided with a roller mounted on a bolt 15 passing through the bifurcation of the actuator (see Figs. 6 and 8); and this roller co-operates with the beveled edges or cam faces on two cam members or plates 1! and 18 arranged side by side and welded or otherwise rigidly fastened to the door slide D and the operating slide 0, respectively.

The cam member 11 for the door slide D, as best shown in Fig. 8, has its front or left-hand edge beveled, and is formed with a square shoulder to engage the roller '15 when the door is fully closed and locked in the position shown in Fig. 8. It can be seen that this engagement of the roller 15 with the square shoulder of the cam member 1'! attached to the door slide D constitutes a supplemental lock to hold the door in its closed position independently of the lock bolt 65 and staple 68, and also independently of the connection of the door to the operating mechanism with its non-reversible drive. The other cam member 18 attached to the operating slide 0 is formed with two beveled edges as best illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, so that movement of this cam member in either direction raises the lock bolt.

These cam members I1 and 18 for automatically operating the lock bolt 65 move with the door slide D and with the operating slide 0 into and out o-f'the space between the bifurcations of the look bolt actuator 10, usually together under normal conditions but sometimes separately if the door is disconnected from the operating slide; and in order that these cam members H and 18 may be guided into this space independently of accurate alignment of the parts and variationsin their movement, the front or left-hand edges of both of these cam members are preferably beveled to form relatively sharp edges as shown in the side view of Fig. 8 and in the end view of Fig. 4.

The movements of the parts involved in the automatic locking and unlocking of the door will be considered hereinafter, in connection with the description of the operation.

Limit switches.In order to cut off the normal operating current at the appropriate point in the opening and closing movements of the door, limit switches automatically operated by the operating slide 0 are used. In an installation of the character under consideration, it will be evident that such limit switches are subject to adverse conditions in the accumulation of dirt, grease, and the like, and being enclosed with, the operating mechanism in the casing above the cell doors are not readily accessible for the cleaning and maintenance necessary to keep exposed contact parts in good condition. Accordingly, it is proposed to employ wholly enclosed mercury type contacts for the limit switches in the apparatus of this invention to assure reliable contact operation for long times without attention.

These enclosed mercury contactors contemplated are of the usual type comprising a hermetically sealed glass or metal tube containing a globule of mercury adapted to connect a pair of electrodes sealed in the tube when it is tilted, said tube being preferably filled Withan inert gas to avoid the accumulation of mercury vapor. This tube is preferably formed with its electrodes connected with metal caps like in the ordinary cartridge fuse, so that the mercury contactor as a whole may be supported in spring clips of the usual type and readily removed for replacement. These clips, in which the mercury contactor is inserted, are preferably secured to blocks of suitable insulating material, with binding posts (not shown) for the attachment of external wires;

and these insulated blocks are fastened to pivotally supported members having rollers engaged by actuating bars carried by the operating slide. In the case of the limit switch SC for the closed position of the door (see Figs. 2 and 4), the member 19 carrying the mercury contact tube 89 is pivoted on a pin 8| in the bracket 82 fastened by bolts 83 to the support 5, and its roller 84 is engaged by an actuating bar 85, which is adjustably connected by the bolts 43 passing through elongated openings therein to the bracket 44 attached to the operating slide 0 and supporting the coupling bolt 35 (see Figs. 2 and 7). When the operating slide 0 carrying its bracket 44 and the actuating bar 85 reaches the appropriate point in the closing movement of the door, it can be seen that the actuating bar 85 will strike the roller 84 and tilt the member 19 and the mercury tube to the position shown, thereby opening the circuit. When the door is opened, and the actuating bar moved out of engagement with the roller 84, and the member 19 falls by its own weight and tilts the mercury tube 80 into position to close the circuit. By adjusting the actuating bar 85 endwise, the point in the closing movement of the door at which the operating current to the motor is cut off may be accurately determined, so as to avoid undue shock or jar.

In the case of the other limit switch S0 for the open position, its supporting member 81 is pivoted on a pin 88fixed to the bracket 54 (see Figs. 2 and 5); and its roller 89 is engaged by a different actuating bar 90 adjustably fastened in a similar way to the bracket attached to the operating slide 0. This limit switch S0 is shown tilted down in position to close the circuit; but at the appropriate point in the opening movement of the door, the actuating cam 99 engages the roller 89 and tilts this switch to open the circuit.

Indication contactor.1n order that' the guard at the remote control point may know when a door is fully closed and also. properly locked, each door is equipped with an indication contactor of the same enclosed mercury 'contact type, which is arranged to be positioned by the movement of the door and the lock bolt actuator in such a way to be tilted to close a circuit only if the door is closed and locked.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2 and the fragmentary views of Figs. 11-13, the spring clips for the mercury contact tube 9| of the indication contactor are fastened to an insulated block 92, with suitable binding posts not shown, which in turn is secured by screws or the like to a plate-like member 93 having a slot 94 at one end around an extension of the bolt I6 in the upper end of the lock bolt actuator I9 (see Figs. 6 and 11). cury tube is also pivotally connected by a pin 95 to another plate-like member 96 pivotally supported on a stationary pin 91 in an extension arm 98 attached to the support 5. This other member 96 carries a roller 99 adapted to be engaged by the beveled edge of the left-hand block II secured to the door slide D and carrying the spring buffer.

The relative position of the parts of the indication contactor are shown in Fig. 11 for the door fully closed and locked. When the door is partially or fully open, so that the block I1 is out of engagement with the roller 99 and even though the lock bolt 65 is in its lower locked position, the two pivoted members 93 and 99 drop by their own weight to the position shown in Fig. 12., where the mercury tube 9| is tilted in the opposite direction from that shown in. Fig. 11 to open the circuit. If the door is in a closed position, but the lock bolt is in its raised or unlocked position, the parts assume the relative positions shown in Fig. 13, where the tube 9| is tilted to open the circuit. If the door is open, and the lock bolt should also be raised, which is an abnormal condition, the member 93 carrying the mercury tube 9| would be merely tilted still more from the position shown in Fig. 12, keeping the indication circuit open.

This construction and arrangement of parts provides a simple and effective way to close or open an indicating circuit at one point dependent upon both the position and locked condition of the door; and since the contact means is fully enclosed, there is no chance for any dirt, oil, or corrosion of the contact surfaces to cause contact failures.

Release for manual closing.-Under certain circumstances it is desirable that the doors of a cell block when open should be disconnected from their operating mechanisms and be free to be closed by hand, while under other conditions it is desirable that the doors should be held in their open position. For example, in accordance with prison routine frequently adopted, when the prisoners are marched into the cell corridor to be locked up, each prisoner is required to close his own door; and under such circumstances the cell doors should be free to be closed by hand. On the other hand, when a guard enters the corridor to let out or' lock up an individual prisoner, it is desirable that any cell door standing open should be held This member 93 carrying the meropen to avoid the risk that the guard may be forced into a cell and locked up.

Accordingly, provision is made in accordance with this invention to enable the guard by manual actuation of a suitable master selector lever at the control point to determine whether the open door or doors shall be held in the open position, or shall be free to be closed by hand. For this purpose the operating mechanism for each cell includes a selector slide bar I99 near the rear wall of the mechanism casing, which is guided near one end in a notch or slot I9I in the bracket 82 as shown in Fig. 6, and is guided near the other end in a similar notch I92 in the other bracket 54 as shown in Figs. 7 and 10, this bar being supported on a free roller I93 alongside the roller 53 for the lift bar 39 and mounted on the stub shaft 51 in the bracket 54 (see Figs. 4 and 10). The selector bars I99 for the several cells are bolted or otherwise connected together as indicated at I95 in Fig. 1 to form a master bar extending the length of the cell block, these selector bars being sufliciently flexible to allow for slight variations in the alignment of the guiding notches and supporting rollers of the operating mechanisms and avoid binding under the relatively short distance of movement of these bars.

The purpose of this selector bar I99 for each door operating mechanism, when shifted from the normal position shown to an operated position, is to raise the lift bar 39 when the corresponding door is open, and thus disengage the coupling bolt 35 from the door slide D, so that the door is free from the operating mechanism and may be closed by hand. For this purpose, a curved arm or lever I96 is freely pivoted at one end on a suitable stud or pin I9I riveted to this selector bar I99, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10; and the other end of this arm I96 carries on a pin I98 riveted thereto two freely movable rollers I99 and H9 disposed side by side, one roller I99 under the lift bar, and the other roller H9 in a position to be engaged by an actuating cam block I with a beveled end (see Figs. 5 and 10) which is welded or otherwise secured to the operating slide 0.

The means for manually shifting the selector bars I99 will be explained later in describing the control cabinet; but assuming that the selector slide bar I99 to be in the normal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the relation of the parts is such that the cam block II I on the operating slide 0- does not engage the roller 9, thereby leaving the lift bar 39 in' its normal lowered position, with the door coupled to the operating slide and held in its open position by reason of the non-reversible gearing drive between the motor and the operating slide. However, if the selector bar I99 is pulled to the left from the normal position shown in Fig. 19, the roller 9 on the arm I96 moving with this bar is positioned so as to be engaged by the cam block III on the operating slide when the door has been operated to its open position. This raises the roller II9 carrying with it the roller I99 to raise the lift bar 39, and thus disengage the coupling bolt from the operating slide and free the door. In this operation the lift bar 39 is raised at its right-hand end and assumes a tilted position; but at that time the coupling bolt 35 is near the right-hand end of the lift bar and is disengaged by such tilted motion.

' In this connection, the right-hand edge of the hole 31 in the door slide D'is slightly beveled, as

best shown at 31a in Fig. 9, and the lower end of the coupling bolt 35 is also beveled. This feature of construction is preferably employed in order that the door will be held sufficiently by the engagement of these beveled surfaces, when the coupling bolt 35 has been raised by the lift bar, to overcome any tendency of the door to gravitate toward its closed position, and yet a slight pull on the door will lift up the coupling bolt and free the door for hand closing.

By reason of this construction and arrangement of parts the guard is able to determine at will, by positioning the master selector bar IIIII, whether the door or doors operated to the open position shall be held in that position or be free for hand closing. The master selector bar I may be set in the operated position at the time one or more doors are to be opened by the power mechanism; and in this case the movement of the operating slide 0 by power raises the lift bar. If occasion should require, however, the guard may release the door or doors standing open by pulling the selector bar I00 to cause the roller III) to ride along the beveled end of the cam block III and thus raise the lift bar. It will be evident that the position of the selector bar I00 has no effect upon any door that is closed, since the operating slide 0 must be moved to the fully open position to bring the cam block III into position to engage the roller IIII and also because only the right-hand end of the lift bar 39 is lifted.

In connection with this mechanical operation, it should be noted that the upward movement of the roller III] to raise the lift bar 39 occurs as this roller rides the length of the beveledor inclined end of the cam block I I I. E ndwise movement of the selector bar I00 greater than this minimum produces no effect. In other words, it is not necessary to move the selector bar accurately a certain distance to accomplish the desired actuation of the lift bar, but merely any reasonable distance greater than such minimum; and it is evident that the parts may be proportioned so that the selector bars for all of the operating mechanisms throughout the cell block will be moved at least such minimum distance under the most unfavorable conditions of lost motion, or changes in the length of the individual bars by variations in temperature or the like.

Key and emergency reZease.-As previously noted, it is considered desirable to provide means to enable the doors to be individually unlocked or released manually by a key device, and also provide for the simultaneous unlocking and releasing of all of the doors for hand operation by the prisoners in the case of a power failure or other emergency. These different operations are preferably performed by moving the same master release bar extending the length of the cell block to different positions manually by appropriate hand levers in the control cabinet. This master release bar comprises a release bar II for each cell which is supported on rollers IIS on pins suitably attached to upright members II'I located at intervals in the length of the cell and secured to the top and bottom parts of the mechanism casing above the cell doors (see Figs. 4 to 7). This bar H5 is retained in place by strap members H8, and is located immediately behind the front cover II9 of the chaseway or casing. These release bars II5 for the several cells are bolted or otherwise connected together as indicated at I2 I in Fig. 1, so as to form a master bar extending the length of the cell block, the individual bars being sufficiently flexible to compensate for variations in the alignment of their supporting rollers and brackets.

Considering first the provision for the manual key release of the individual doors, the end of the shaft 50, with which are associated the crank arm 43 operating the lift bar 39 and the angle lever I3 for operating the lock bolt, is formed at its outer end with a head I22 of hexagonal or equivalent cross section adapted to fit a key device I25 similar to a socket wrench, such as shown in Fig. 18, so that the shaft 50 may be manually turned by this key device. The kind of key device I25 disclosed is merely illustrative; and this device may take any suitable form adapted to be engaged with the end of the shaft 50 and permit turning it by hand. In this connection, it is contemplated that the key device will be ordinarily kept in the wardens office or other suitable place, where it can be obtained only by a special guard or other person authorized to use it, although any other suitable procedure may be adopted to safeguard the custody and possession of this key device so that it cannot be secure-d by a prisoner and used improperly.

The key device I25 is inserted through a hole I26 in the front cover of the mechanism casing as best shown in Fig. 1; and this hole is normally covered or obstructed by the release bar II5, so that until this release bar has been shifted from it normal position to its first operated position by manual operation from the control cabinet, to bring a hole I2'I in this bar opposite this hole I26, the key device cannot be used. If, however, the release bar H5 has been operated, the key holes for all of the cells are unobstructed, and any person in possession of the key device I25 may go to any cell, and use the key device to turn the shaft 50. Such turning of the shaft 50 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, rocks the crank arm 48, and by its engagement with the laterally extending lug I4 on the lever I3 also rocks that lever. This motion of the crank arm 48 raises the lift bar 39 to disengage the coupling bolt 35, and the movement of the lever I3 lifts the lock bolt actuator ID to unlock the door.

It will be evident that the manual key device may be used to unlock any door or doors individually by hand when occasion requires, or release any door from its operating mechanism in the open or any intermediate position. Ordinarily, any selected cell door or doors may be unlocked and opened, closed and locked, or held or released in the open position by supervisory manual control of the power operating mechanism; but the manual key device affords an additional facility in the operation of prison cell doors which is useful in connection with the varying conditions for prison routine, or in the case of failure or derangement of the operating mechanism for a particular door.

Considering now the emergency release feature, the release bar II5 for each cell is provided with a cam block I30 welded or otherwise fastened to it in position to engage a roller I3I (see Figs. 1, 3, and 4) freely movable on a pin fastened to the lower end of a crank arm I32 secured to the shaft 50 by a pin or the like. When the release bar H5 is moved from its normal position shown, and beyond its first operated position in which the key holes are uncovered, to another or second operated position, the roller I3I is raised by the cam block I30, and

changes.

lift the lock bolt actuator, thusunlocking and releasing the door the same as if the key device were used.

Thus, in the case of a fire accompanied by a power failure, or other emergency condition, when it is desired to unlock and release all of the doors of the cell block independently of the power mechanism, the manual movement of the master release bar II to its extreme position by a lever or equivalent in the control cabinet acts to unlock all of the doors and disconnect them from their power mechanisms, so that they may be opened by hand. This emergency release for all doors is entirely mechanical and hence may be used when no power is available. In the case of a power failure or other out of order condition effecting an individual door, it is contemplated that the manual key device I of Fig. 18 will be used for releasing a prisoner.

In connection with this master release bar, a cam block I co-operating with a roller I'3I is used for actuation of the lift bar and lock bolt, and the holes I21 in this bar to uncover the keyhole are elongated, so that proper operation is obtained in spite of variations in the extent of movement of the release bars for the individual cells due to lost motion and temperature The positioning and pulling of the master release bar to cover and uncover the key holes is opposed only by the friction of its supports; and when this master release bar is called upon to actuate parts for emergency release, it is pulled in one direction and transmits the actuating force under tension. Consequently, th master release bar may be relatively light and flexible, and is not subject to the usual limitations and disadvantages of long master bars for mechanical actuation of parts.

Control cabinet-The hand levers for positioning the selector bars and releasebars, together with the control switches and indicating lamps for the remote electrical control and indication of the door operating mechanisms, are preferably disposed in a suitable control cabinet located near one end of the cell block in position where the corridor and doors can be observed, and preferably in some appropriate'protecting cage or enclosure. This control cabinet may take any suitable form; and the specific'arrangement disclosed is merely illustrative.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, l5, l6, and 1'7, the control cabinet shown comprises two compartments or boxes formed of angle iron or equivalent supporting members and sheet metal walls welded or otherwise secured together in accordance with conventional practice, and in a manner not necessary to illustrate or describe in detail. One of these compartments, which is provided with a swing door I34 with a suitable lock (not shown), includes two levers KL'and RL for operating the release bar I I5 to, its different positions. These levers are pivotally supported at their upper ends side by side on a pin I35 in brackets I36 attached to the top of the control cabinet; and the shorter lever KL is offset so that the intermediate portions of these levers are in the same vertical plane. The end of th release bar II5 for the end cell is fastened by rivets or the like to a pair of side plates I31 carrying two rollers I38 disposed as shown in position to be engaged by the levers. A latch member I is pivoted on a pin in a bracketI II attached'to a wall of the cabinet, and has a hook end which in the normal lowered position of this the shaft 50 is rocked to raise the lift bar and latch member engages a stop I423on theshorter lever KL. 'A roller I43 fixed-to the longer-lever RL (shown dotted in Fig. 16) co-operates' with a cam surface on this latch-member-I40 to lift it when the longer lever is pulled out.

Upon pulling the short lever KL, which may be identified by a suitable inscription on a plate attached thereto as shown the master release bar H5 is moved to its first operated position to uncover the key holes, the movement of the lever being limited by the engagement of the latch member I40 with the stop I42. Upon pulling the long lever RL, which may be identified by a plate bearing a suitable inscription as shown, the roller I43 lifts the latch member I40, so that the master release bar II 5 may be moved to its extreme or second operated'position to unlock and release all of the doors. The longer emergency release lever RL is preferably made of such length that the master release bar for a long cell block may be shifted through the limiteddistance of movement required to unlock and release the doors by one guard without unclue exertion.

Since the compartment with the door l34 contains the emergency releaselever RL by which all of the cells may be unlocked, it is evident that due precautions should be taken to prevent unauthorized access to this compartment. It is contemplated that the door I34for this compartment will be, provided with one or more special locks (not shown), and that the keys for such lock or locks will be retained in the wardens ofiice or other safe location, where they can be obtained and used only by authorized persons.

The other compartment of the control cabinet, similarly provided with a swing door I45 and equipped with a suitable lock (not shown) contains the selector handle or lever for positioning the master selector bar I00 to hold or release the doors in their open position, and a control panel onwhich are mounted the indicating lamps, individual door control switches, and a master switch The selector bar I00 for the end cell is connected by a pin and slot connection I46 to an angle lever I41 pivotally supported on a bracket I48 fastened to the wall of the control cabinet, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16; and theother end of this angle lever I4! is pivotally connected to a vertically movable slide I50 having a suitable hand grip at its lower end. This manually operable selector slide I50 is guided in a slot in a cross member I5I and is formed with notches I52'to engage the edges of this slot to hold the slide in its different positions, a leaf spring I53 being preferably provided to facilitate its manipulation. By moving this selector slide I50 up and down, the guard may position the master selector bar I00 so as'to release all of the doors operated. to the open position, in the manner previously explained. l v

The control panel I55, preferably of a suitable insulating material, is detachably fastened as by screws ,to the front of a box-like casing I 56 into which the various connecting wires (not shown) are run through an enclosed Wire duct l5'I and through a suitable insulating bushing 858 through the wall of the control cabinet into thechaseway above the cells, and thence along this chaseway, loose or bound in cable form as preferred, to the terminals for the motors and contactors associated with the several doors. No attempt has been made to illustrate the arrangement and structural details of the wiring and terminal connections, which may. take any suitable form in accordance with approved practice for electrical installations of this character.

Mounted on the control panel I55 are a number of indicating lamps I68, one for each cell, which are arranged in rows and are adapted to be lighted when the corresponding cell door is fully closed and locked. One typical structure of an indicating lamp suitable for this purpose is illustrated in Fig; 19, and comprises a socket I6I extending through a hole in the panel I55 with a flange on the front end and a threaded sleeve or nut for clamping the socket to the panel. The socket includes spring contact fingers I62, with suitable terminals not shown, supported on a block of insulating material attached to the socket, said contact fingers being adapted to receive and support a miniature electric lamp I63 of-the telephone type. A cap I64, including a glass bulls eye has a split spring flange fitting tightly in the front end of the socket, so that this cap may be removed when necessary to replace the lamp, Each indicating lamp is identi fied with its cell door in a suitable manner, preferably by a number appearing on the bulls eye. The control panel I55 also has mounted there on, adjacent each indicating lamp, an .individual door control switch I65 of the three-position snap type adapted to close contacts in the neutral or middle position and also in each of two extreme operated positions.

The master switch MS on the control panel in the form shown comprises a lever I61 with a suitable knob which may be rocked or tilted from closed position to open position. This master switch MS, as shown in Figs. 20 and 21, preferably comprises a rocking frame I68 which is secured to the shaft I69 operated by the lever I61, and is pivotally supported in a bracket I18 fastened to the panel I55. This frame I68 carries a plate I1I of insulating material on which are supported in spring clips mercury contactors I12 of the same type employed for the limit switches previously described, there being two of these mercury contactors I12 for each door, one acting to close a control circuit for door closing when the plate is tilted to one position, and the other closing a control circuit for door opening when said plate is tilted to the other position. A latch or detent device is preferably employed for holding the master switch. MS in its operated position; and as shown, this detent comprises a leaf spring I14 with a rounded end engaging in notches in a lug I15 attached to the frame I68 supporting the plate I 1 I.

It is contemplated that the swing door M5 giving access to the control panel I55 will be' kept closed and locked except when doors are not being manually controlled, and a cut-out switch is preferably employed to cut off the supply of current to the indicating lamps and control switches when this door is'closed. This cutout switchnot only extinguishes the lamps when not in use, thereby prolonging their life, but also cuts oil all electrical energy from the door control switches and wires; and obviates the possi- '65 b1hty of false operation by crosses or grounds rial with a metal band I8I secured thereto and adapted to engage spring contact fingers I82 when the door I45 is open and this plunger is moved to its outer position by the spring, said contact fingers being suitably supported on insulating blocks and terminal posts in accordance with conventional practice.

It can be readily seen that when the door I45 giving access to the control. panel is unlocked, the spring I88 will push out the plunger I19 and bring the metal band I8I into engagement with the contact fingers I82 and supply current to the control and indicating circuits. When the door is closed and locked, however, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 17, and current is cut off from the control and indication circuits. This cut-out switch I18 may be provided with a plurality of contacts for the control of the alarms or lamps in the wardens ofiice or otherlocations, in a manner not specifically illustrated, so as to show when the door for a control panel is not properly closed and locked.

Control and indication circuits.The preferred arrangement of control and indication'circuits is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 22 for two doors, this same arrangement being duplicated for as many doors as may be included in the cell block or the group under supervisory manual control from the same control point. The contacts of the individual door control switches and the master switch are shown diagrammatically and conventionally in this circuit diagram of Fig. 22 as comprising contact arms engaging stationary contacts. A suitable source, of alternating current for operating the motors and lighting the indicating lampshasbeen illustrated conventionally as a transformer, T with the cut-out switch I 18 in its primary circuit. Considering the control circuits, whichare the same for all doors, andhave been assigned the same. reference numbers with exponents, a closing control wire. I85 and an opening control wire I86 extends from the controlpanel touthe mo tor M for each door with a common return wire 0 for all of themotors. These control wires include the limit switches SC and SO and are connected to separate contacts of the corresponding three-position individual control switch.

Each door operating motor in the specific em bodiment illustrated is of the alternating current type, preferably a split phase induction motor having two field windings IF and 2F, and a squirrel-cage type rotor. One terminalof each of the field windings is connected to the common return wire C, and the other terminals are connected across a condenser I81 of suitable capacity and to the opening and closing control wires. It can be seen that if alternating current is supplied across one control wire I85 and the common return wire C, one of the field windings IF is energized directly and the other field winding 2F is energized in series with the condenser I81, thereby producing the necessary phase displacement of the current in the two field windings and causing the rotor to turn in one direction; whereas, if the other control wire I86 is energized, the field winding 2F is directly enthe normal operating current, and the starting torque, is substantially the same as the running torque.

As shown in Fig. 22, the individual door control switches I65 are assumed to be in the neutral or middle position, the master switch MS in the closed position, and the doors closed and locked, with the limit switches SC for the closed position open, and the limit switches S0 for the open position closed. With the individual control switches I65 in the middle positions, the control wires I85 and I86 are connected to separate contacts on the master switch.

-Assuming that the master switch is moved to the open position, the opening control wires I85 for all of the doors are energized in multiple to supply operating current to the motors M to open the. doors. This operating circuit in the case of the door operated by the motor M, which is typical of all of the others, may be readily traced from one terminal of the secondary of the transformer T, contact member I90 'of the master switch in its dotted position, contact I8I 'of the individual door control switch I65, opening control wire I86, limit switch S0, field windings IF, 2F, and condenser I81, to the common return wire C, and back to. the other terminal of the transformer secondary.

When the door moves from its closed position, the bar 85 is disengaged from the roller 84, and the limit switch SC drops to close the break in the closing control circuit, so that the door may be reversed in an intermediate position if necessary. When the door reaches its open position,

the actuating bar 90 engages the roller 89, and the limit switch S0 is operated to open the motor circuit. The circuit for closing the door is similar to the one traced, and need not be specifically described. 7

The opening and closing control wires I85 and I86 for the motor M of any selected door may also be energized at any time, independently of the position of the master switch MS, by the manual actuation of the corresponding individual control switch I65 to move its contact members I9I and I92 up or down, as the case may be, to connect one or the other of these control wires to the terminal of the transformer secondary, both control wires being disconnected from the master switch under such conditions. For example, with the master switch MS in the closed position and all of the doors closed and looked as shown in Fig. 21, if the individual control switch I65 is operated to move itscontact member I9I down, current is supplied to the control wire I86 to open the corresponding door, without affecting any of the other doors. Similarly, if the door is standing open, any individual door may be closed by operating its individual control switch.

In other words, the movement of an individual door control switch I65 from its middle position disconnects the control circuits for that door from the master switch MS, and energizes either the opening or the closing control wire I85 or I86, dependent upon the position to which this individual switch is operated; and consequently any individual door may be opened or closed at any time for any purpose, independently of the existing position of the master switch, and without affecting the existing position of any of the other doors. In this connection, it'can be seen that when'an individual control switch I 65 is moved from one extreme position to the other, it passes through the neutral position, and the control wire corresponding to the existing position of the master switch may bemomentarily energized; but this merely gives a -preliminary energization of the motor tooperate the door to the same position for which the individual switch is being operated.

Considering now the means for indicating at the control point the closed position and locked condition of the various doors, in the circuit arrangement of Fig. 22 the indication contactors 9| for the doors are merely connected in series with their corresponding indicating lamps I63 and a source of current, illustrated as being another secondary of the transformer T to provide a voltage suitable for the lamps. It can be readily seen that, when a door is closed and locked, its indicating lamp is lighted, but whenever the door is open or is not locked, this lamp is extinguished. If a lamp should burn out, or its circuit become broken for some reason, there is no indication; and consequently, the lighting of a lamp is definite assurance that the system is in proper condition and the door is actuallyclosed and locked. I

The cut-out switch I18 previously described is illustrated in Fig. 22 as opening the primary circuit of the transformer T, but may be arranged in any other suitable way to cut off the supply of current to the indicating lamps and switches of the control panel whenever its door I45 is closed and locked.

Operation of the door operating mechanism. With this explanation of the electric control and indication circuits, consideration may be now given to the mechanical operation and movement of the parts in the power operation of opening and closing thedoors. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and associated sectional views the parts are illustrated in the positions for' the door fully closed and locked.

Assume now that the master switch MS, or the individual control switch I65 is operated to supply current to the motor M for the urpose of unlocking and opening the door. The pinion 24, rotated by the motor M through the non-reversible worm 28 and gear 28 (see Fig. 3), drives the rack 23 and the operating slide 0 connected therewith in the openingdirection, that is, toward the right as viewed'in Fig. 1. Bynonreversible is meant that the worm is of such pitch that even when well lubricated the worm wheel 28 cannot drive worm 28 although the worm 29 can drive the worm wheel 28. Referring to Fig. 9, during the first part'of this movement of the operating slide 0, the coupling bolt 35 moves freely in the recess 36 in the door slide D until the block 63 on the operating slide 0 clears the cam surface 62 on the lower edgeof the lift bar 39, whereupon the lift bar falls by its own weight and allows the end of the coupling bolt 35 to enter the hole 31 in the door slide D. In other words, at the beginning of the opening operation, the operating slide 0 moves for a limited distance of lost motion independently of the door slide D, and then the operating slide and the door slide are positively coupled for the opening movement.

During this idle or lost motion movement of the operating slide 0, the right-hand beveled edge or cam face on the cam member I8 attached to the operating slide engages the roller 15 of the lock bolt actuator, as can best be seenby reference to Figs. 1 and 8, thereby lifting the lock bolt 65 and unlocking the door. The angle lever I3 turns freely on the shaft 50 during this'operation. The roller 15 on the lockboltactuator 'lll is; heldin the raised position by the upper edge of'theother-cam member 1.1 in the door slide, until the door has moved to the point where the staple 68 is free of the lock bolt 65. At the time the coupling bolt 35 drops into the hole 31 and connects the operating slide 0 to the door slide D, any impact or'jar is absorbed by'the lefthand spring plunger l6. During the continued movement of the door toward the open position, the roller '38 on the coupling bolt 35 rides along the upper edge of the lift bar 39.

One important feature-of the invention is that the lost motion between the operating slide '0 and the door slide D,- which is necessary to raise the lock bolt during the initial opening operation, is eliminated-when the door starts to move; and-the door is directly connected to the operatingslide during the opening movement. This avoids excessive shock or jars being transmitted to the operating mechanism if a prisoner should try; to pull the door back andforth While it is moving, as would otherwise occur if the lost motion were present while the door is unlocked and being moved. It can be seen that the parts may be readily proportioned so that the coupling bolt 35 will drop into the hole '31 and positively connect the door slide D to the operatingslide O at substantially the same time that the operating slide 0 and the cam member l8 thereon have moved far enough tounlock the door, so thatall the lost motion is eliminated before the door is free to be pushed or pulled'by hand.

As soon as the operating slide has moved a short distance from the fully closed and .locked position of the door, the bar 85 carried thereby disengages from the'roller 84 of theclosing limit switch S0, and allows the member .19 carrying the mercury contactor 80 to drop by'its own weight and close the break in the closing control circuit. This enables the operating mechanism to be reversed in mid-stroke to close the door from an intermediate position if occasion should require.

When the operating slide 0 reaches the door opened position, the barv 90 carried .thereby strikes the roller 89 of the opening limit switch S0, tilting the plate and mercury contactor of this limit switch to break'the opening control circuit; and by adjustment or proper proportioning "of the parts, the motor current may be out off at the appropriate point to avoid unnecessary shock or impact when the :door is fully open against a stop usually provided. Such shock that may occur is absorbed in part by the spring bumper l6 between the plate I9 on thedoor and the door, as may happen in case the door has been previously opened by handbyusing the key device or emergency release in the manner previously explained.

As soon as the lockbolt 65 is raised, the parts of the indication contactor-change from the position shown in Fig: 11 to the position shown'in Fig. 13, thereby tilting the mercury tube 9| to a position to open the indicating circuit and extinguish the lamp. While the door is partially or fully open, with the lock bolt '65 dropped,'the parts of the indication contactor are in the position "-shownin Fig. 12, with. the indicating-circuit stil-l-open.

Consideringnow the closing operation, when the'motor M is energized to drive'the pinion 24 in the other direction to close the door, the rack ZS-is driven in the opposite direction,toward the left as'shown in Fig. L- As previously explained, the selector bar I00 may be positioned to'leave thedoorcoupled to the operating mechanism and thus held in the open position, or may be set 'to disconnect the door for hand closing; and in 'lock'bolt actuator 'lll '(see'Fig. 8), thereby-raising the lock bolt 65-clear of thestaple 68 during the final closing movement. At the appropriate point in this movement, the limit switch SC is operated to cutoff the current fromthe motor. Also, during this final closing movement "of the door,the bar-63 on the operating slide Oengages the cam surface 62-on the lower edge of the lift bar 39 (see'F'ig. 9) and raises the lift bar to lift thecoupling bolt 35 out'of the hole 31 in the door slide D. During thisidle or lost motion movement ofthe operating slide relative to the door 'slide', the cam member 18 on the operating slide 0 moves under the roller'15 on the lock bolt actuatorlfl into position-ready to unlock the door during the next opening operation. When the parts are in the closed position shown in Fig. 8, the roller -15 on the lock bolt actuator 10 drops down-back-of the'shoulder on the cam member 1.! on the door slide D, thereby locking-the door closed at this point as well as by dropping the 'lock bolt 65.

If it should happen that the door is released in its open position by positioning-the selector bar-LIMI- to raise the coupling-bolt 35 as previously explained, the initial closing movement of the operating slide'O pulls the cam block I ll thereon out from under the roller H0 (see Figs. 1 and 10),

allowing the coupling bolt 35 to drop back into the recess '36 and engage the shoulder at the end thereof (see Fig. 9), whereupon the operating slide -0 and the door slide D, move together in the same relative position as when the door is fully closed, the cam members '1! and 18 being substantially in alignment. The lock bolt actuator' '10 is raised and dropped, and the limit switch SC-islikewise operated in the same manner described, and as if the door had been left coupled to the operating mechanism. In this case, however, there is lost motion in one direction between the-door slide and the operating-slide; but if any attempt is made by a'prisonerto pull the door provide a positive connection between the door slide and the-operating slide.

' In connection with this power operation of the doors, it is proposed to use such a'gear reduction between the motor and theoperating slide as will cause the door to be moved relatively slowly, re-

quiring for example 4 to 6' seconds for an opening 'oriclosingmovement. reduces the shock and jar at the end-of the door. movement'that 

